The Saturday Six

One.

Listen here.

This week marked a debut book release for my new friend, Christy Cabe. My review of the book is below, but here is a link to our conversation about Brownie Crumbs and Other Life Morsels. (How can you NOT love a book with that title?) Christy's book is a memoir, but it also offers wonderful, non-preachy life advice, and to talk with her further about her experiences of losing her mother when she was young and walking through three years of cancer treatments with her toddler son was a privilege. Christy is a great story-teller; take a listen!

Two.

 I've shared with you before (on the blog and on a podcast) about the RAD-JOY Surrender Crosses and why I love them so much. Ryan and I have one of these crosses hanging in our home, and I love nailing my burdens to it! The creators of these crosses just released a new item in their shop: a set of prayer cards with 31 little cards on a ring to give you one prayer focus per day. I always love passing along new finds that might help you increase your prayer life, so I wanted to share these with you! 

Three.

 The season of outdoor entertaining has returned, and KariAnne has some great tips for how to do it well. Her ideas remind me very much of my cousin's graduation party last summer, which was much fun. (I especially loved the dish towel tip. Genius!)

Four.

Oh my. A wood wick candle with Be Still on the jar? All my happy places colliding. Great job, Dayspring!

Five.

This blogger writes for one of the same websites I do, and she recently had quite a scary health situation. She writes about it here, and her perspective on illness and the Lord is so beautiful. 


Six.

A few weeks ago, a whole big group of my friends started chatting on social media about a soon-to-be released book written by their friend. Obviously I was interested immediately, and a couple of them connected me with the author, Christy Cabe, who sent me an advance copy of the book, so I could read it, too!


After I read the book, one of my friends, who has known Christy for years, asked if I laughed and cried like she did when she read it. Here's the great news: I did! I just met Christy, so all her stories were new to me. I wasn't there walking alongside her through the real-time ups and downs of her life, but her manner of story-telling was so inviting that I crawled right into the stories with her, and I did laugh and cry. And immediately, I felt like Christy was my new friend.

Brownie Crumbs and Other Life Morsels tells snippets of stories from Christy's life - going all the way back to her younger days, when (at age eleven) she had to say goodbye to her mother, who passed away unexpectedly in her 30's. Already wise and rooted in the Lord (much more so than most her age), Christy recognized the deep gift she had been given in even those few short years with her mom, and she opened her heart to love a second mother, who married her dad just a few months later.

After Christy grew up and got married, she faced another life-altering storm when her two-year-old son, Karson, was diagnosed with leukemia. Christy and her husband spent the next three years fighting alongside Karson, and learning a whole new language of medical jargon as they waited to see if the years of treatments would bring health and healing to their son. (He is now a thriving young man, praise the Lord!)

Maybe you didn't lose your mom when you were a kid, and maybe you've never heard a cancer diagnosis for your child. But I'm certain you've faced trials of some kind, and that is enough to allow you to relate to Christy's journey and to learn from the morsels of wisdom she offers throughout the pages of her book. Christy doesn't water down the hard parts of her story, but the book isn't heavy all the way through. She intersperses humor with the hard, giving healthy glimpses into both sides of life.

Unlike many similar books, Christy's pages are filled with pictures, so you can get to know her and the family members she loves. There's a discussion guide at the end, making it perfect for book clubs and small groups.

Bake a pan of brownies before you start reading; you'll want a snack to munch on while you read and make a new friend in Christy Cabe.

* Christy provided a digital advance copy of this book to me, but all opinions are my own! *

The Saturday Six

One.

Listen to Ann's interview here 

We're covering new territory on the Conversation Cafe this week! I had a chance to talk with Ann Gabhart, who has written many books, but the series of hers that I fell in love with was the Hidden Springs Mystery series. (I reviewed the most recent book in that series a couple of weeks ago on the Saturday 6.) Ann was fun to talk to and shared some insights into her writing craft and the world of fiction in general. Hope you enjoy!

Two.

My friend Sarah Forgrave is doing a new series on her blog to help you know how to eat fast food as responsibly as possible. I loved this first post with practical suggestions of what to eat at a number of popular fast food restaurants if you're wanting to try to be good!

Three.

Have you ever had someone apologize to you (for something big or small) and rather than saying you forgive them, you just dismiss the offense as no big deal? Sure, that might make us more comfortable in an awkward situation, but this powerful little post explains why pushing for grace and forgiveness is so important. Well-written words from Andrea Summers.

Four.

 And not to belabor the topic of forgiveness, but I also wrote on that subject for the Annesley site this week and thought I'd share my words as well.

Five.

Easter is a week from tomorrow, FYI. If you're needing a quick decoration (that's geared more toward Jesus than bunnies), I love this free printable! 

 Six.

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I was absolutely giddy when I saw book 3 in Irene Hannon's Hope Harbor series had been released. The first book, called Hope Harbor released a couple of years ago and was one of the first fiction books I read after I quit my full time job. It rekindled in me a love for fiction, and as you can tell, I haven't quit since! Last year, I happily revisited the charming Pacific Northwest town in book two, titled Sea Rose Lane, and when I saw that Sandpiper Cove was releasing this spring, I had to read it. Immediately.

If you read my fiction reviews very often, you know I have a soft spot in my soul for books set in small towns, and Hope Harbor is just such a town. Charming and little, where the people know each other and actually cheer each other on in the most beautiful way. I was happy to see some of my favorites from earlier books, like Charley with his taco truck and, Luis, the grateful citizen getting a new chance in a new country.

This time, I got to know police chief Lexie Graham, a single mom grieving a past that remains mysterious to most of the townspeople, and working hard to make Hope Harbor a safe and pleasant place to live.  I'd met her in an earlier book, but this time I learned her story. She's investigating a string of vandalism incidents around town and more than one seem to be targeting Adam Stone (or Stone, as most people call him), an ex-con trying to build a new life among the people of Hope Harbor.

As you might expect from an officer of the law, Lexie has keen intuition, and she expects to find herself overly wary of Stone and his prison-riddled past. But for some reason, the change she's making seems to be more genuine than facade. As she reaches out to help professionally, she finds herself intrigued by this man she knows better than to associate with.

And indeed, Stone wants a new life. He wants friends and a place to belong. But a lifetime of hurt and betrayal makes him a bit skittish of trusting a town full of people who know he has a shady past.

As the two begin to work together to find answers to the vandalism, they begin to wonder if they'll also find a way to fill these massive, secret voids deep inside both of them.

This third installment in the Hope Harbor series was a sweet, insightful, easy read that kept me up late so I could see how it ended! Thoroughly enjoyable!

* I received a copy of this book from Revell but was not required to provide a positive review. * 

The Saturday Six (No Foolin'!)

One.

 Working on the kitchen cabinets (and of course, by that I mean RYAN working on the kitchen cabinets) has me all in the mood to rethink my decorations in most of the house. Not that I want to go buy a bunch of stuff, but just that I want to shop the house and remix and rethink. Love the style of the Collingsworth girls, so this post has me ready to get moving!

Two.

I'm getting ready to interview a fiction writer for the Conversation Cafe (my first time to talk fiction with someone on that podcast!) and I thought this written conversation with novelist Deborah Raney was very interesting! I always find it fascinating to learn more about the reading and writing habits of authors! (P.S. - enjoy, Lori!)

Three.

 Did you know I was a piano lesson failure? I took them for 11 years but didn't apply myself and can barely play anything. Womp, womp. But even though I'm terrible, I have a huge appreciation for piano talent and found this short video fascinating. A professional pianist wore eye tracking glasses while he played, and you can see what he's looking at while he plays. He even narrates it to explain what he's doing. Really cool!

Four.

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh big hair. I've had it. Have you had it? My biggest goal in the mid 90's was to have the perfect "wings" on my hair. Sadly, my hair is so thick, as soon as I'd spray the wings out to the side (held in place by a giant plastic pick), the hair would collapse and I'd just have a sticky, covered-up mess. But this post has some truly impressive big hair. TRULY.

Five.

Capsule or no capsule, if you're in the mood for some cute clothes, Simply Bliss Boutique has some ADORABLE new stuff rolling through the boutique. Of course you should check out every category, but here are the new arrivals! 

 
Six.

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I was back in the land of fiction this week, where books are concerned, reading a new-to-me author by the name of Ginny L. Yttrup. I'd heard of her before, from my radio days, but I hadn't read anything she'd written until now.


A few days ago, I read a post written by a book-reviewer who said she struggles with Christian fiction, because it doesn't get messy enough for her. She wants real-life scenarios, nothing sugar-coated, and she feels Christian fiction is too polished. Writers are afraid to get into sticky topics, she said. I wrestled with that for a while, because I don't feel the same way about Christian fiction. I read it to enjoy a happy place when days are hard, and I don't want to have to worry about finding bad language and sinful behavior filling the pages.

But as a happy compromise for readers like that reviewer and me, Home, by Ginny L. Yttrup, offers an honest look at hard situations without being filled with anything offensive or contradictory to Scripture.

The book is written through the continuously alternated viewpoints of three characters. (At first I feared this might distract me, but it didn't at all.) Melanie is a mildly successful novelist, her husband Craig is a well-respected architect, and their twenty-plus year marriage has hit a rocky place. A depressed economy means it doesn't matter how great of a home-builder Craig is, because no one can afford to buy. A distracted and restless heart means Melanie is in danger of not meeting her next book deadline. And both these things mean not enough money sits in the bank account for Melanie and Craig to continue their current lifestyle. And as everyone knows, money troubles are tough on any marriage. Avoiding each other and burying under work seems the preferred M.O. for both of them.

Meanwhile, their neighbor and good friend Jill is facing a few battles of her own. Not within her marriage or their finances, but within her mind. Nightmares and  obsessive-compulsive behavior have increased so dramatically that her husband and even their sweet little children are noticing that something isn't right. Admitting a problem exists isn't what Jill wants to do, but she realizes she may not have a choice.

Mental illness, marriage woes, and wandering eyes are among the hard topics Ginny addresses in these pages, and she does so in a beautiful balance that doesn't condemn, but also doesn't gloss over the severity of the situations and the need for repentance, accountability, truth, and professional help. The book wasn't sugary, it wasn't filled with shiny packages tied with neat bows, and yet it did offer the escape to another place that I always long for when I read. (BONUS: there was a cottage with a water view involved. I love cottages and water!)

I grew to love these characters and appreciated the insights into their minds, their fears, their struggles, and their faith. I would definitely read more from Ginny!

* I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

The Saturday Six

One.

Listen to the podcast here.

So if you hang out on Pinterest much, I'm going to guess you've seen one of the creations from this week's Conversation Cafe guest, Shannon Long. She is a blogger over at Sweet Blessings, but she has created these Scripture writing plans that are all over Pinterest. I've been using them this year (they're just collections of Scripture references for each month, and you look them up and write out the verses) and have been learning much through this practice! I wanted to hear the story behind them, so she was kind enough to join me, tell a bit of her story and how Scripture writing impacted her during a really severe health crisis! We talked for about a half hour - hope you can take a listen and check out her plans!

Two.

 What a beautifully and succinctly written post that addresses the truth that God is using each of us RIGHT NOW. It's not about grand dreams of how He may use us in the future, though certainly He will use us then, too. But now matters just as much! I loved this, Jessica! Thanks for writing it!

Three.

 If you're a book lover, do you love finding out little snippets of the story behind the story? This week I read A.H. Gabhart's newest novel, Murder is No Accident (review below) and I stumbled upon this article that gives a peek into how she chose one of the main settings for the book. It gives no spoilers, I promise, and is fun to read!

Four.

This 3 minute video parody showed up in my Facebook feed this week, and maybe it showed up in yours too. But if not, and if you're a fan of the HGTV show House Hunters, you've got to watch it! 

Five.

So, last weekend (as you saw), Ryan not only surprised me with tickets to see the GVB - with David one last time! - but he also treated me to David's brand new CD, which is a hymns project. I was raised on hymns and certainly went through my rebellious teen phase when I felt they were so not cool and didn't want to listen to them, but apparently I'm old now or something, because I dearly love them again, and this album is SO GOOD. Hymns projects always interest me because it seems there are about a dozen hymns that are must-have-standards, and you're guaranteed to find at least three from that list on any collection. And that's true of this one. He's got How Great Thou Art and Amazing Grace on the list. But he also has several that I've never heard on any hymns project, and that's what I love about this one! Only Trust Him and Until Then and Victory in Jesus, which is Ryan's favorite. (David does a duet with his equally talented daughter on that one!) So of course I have to say if you're looking for some new music, PICK DAVID!!!!

Six.

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After a few weeks of reading and reviewing non-fiction  books, I was excited to slip over into the world of fiction this week. Anyone else ever need a virtual vacation to a book world now and then? And Hidden Springs would be just the kind of town I'd love to visit for a low-key vacation, but my goodness. Seems like every time a new book comes out, someone's died in town, so maybe I don't want to visit!

Except I do dearly love this little fictional town and all the people in it. It's the kind of series that makes me giddy to see a new book coming out, because I so want to go back and see everyone again! Murder is No Accident is the third book in A.H. Gabhart's series (Hidden Springs Mysteries) and it was as suspenseful as books one and two! (Follow the links on "one" and "two" to read my thoughts on those books.)

In this third installment of Hidden Springs life, we meet teenager Maggie Greene, a budding writer who finds much joy in tip-toeing into the tower room high above Miss Fonda Elwood's grand old house. Miss Fonda is in a senior living facility now and is not always accused of being lucid, but before her mind slipped entirely, she'd told Maggie she was welcome to go into the house anytime she wanted. Maggie feared the rest of the town (starting with her mother, who was hired to keep the house clean, and ending with law enforcement, who are hired to keep trespassing at bay) won't see the invitation from the dementia-riddled lady quite as openly as she does, hence the tip-toeing.

Sneaking in and out works well until the day she Maggie hears a scuffle on the floor below the tower and emerges to find a body at the bottom of the stairs. She calls 911 to report it, but quickly panics at the idea of explaining how she came upon the body, and flees the scene.

That puts Deputy Michael Keene back on the murder-mystery-solving scene, which he rather hopes will end soon so he can start feeling like life in the little town is uneventful once again. He'd rather reserve the title "eventful" for his love life, but unfortunately that's the part of life that seems to be at a standstill.

As the days go by, Michael becomes increasingly aware that the woman at the bottom of the stairs did not trip on her high heels and fall to an untimely, but natural death. A second body, some threats, and a whole lot of suspicious folk leave him scrambling for answers before things get any worse. And while he wishes the happenings of the town would leave him too busy to think about the lovely Alexandria and her confusing waffling of interest/non-interest in him, she seems to override every thought he has.

The book packs a lot of action into a short amount of time, and it also brings in great faith and life lessons alongside the suspenseful mystery. (Full disclosure. I started this book after lunch one day and promised Ryan I would not stay up late to finish it. And then I couldn't put it down. He laughed when I read the last page before going to bed. I couldn't help it!!! I had to know who did it!!) I hope there is at least one more book to take me back to Hidden Springs! I still have a few questions I'd love to see answered!

* Revell send me a complimentary copy of this book but did not require a review in exchange. All opinions are my own! *
 

The Saturday Six

One.

Listen to the podcast here!

Last week on the Saturday Six, I told you about Courtney Westlake's book, A Different Beautiful, which I'd just read and learned so much from! This week I had a chance to learn even more from talking to Courtney! If you missed last week's post, Courtney's daughter Brenna was born with a rare skin condition that has changed so much about Courtney's perception of beauty and the things that matter in interacting with others. If you have a half hour, take a listen and learn some important life truths!

Two.

It is with great sadness that I remind you tomorrow is the beginning of evil DST. If you've been around this blog very long, you know that I absolutely abhor time changes with all my being. Make us central, make us eastern...I don't care. JUST PICK ONE AND LEAVE IT THERE!!!! So tomorrow is the day you lose an hour of sleep, get up an hour earlier, however you want to look at it. My annual PSA is now complete.

Three.

Ran across this post this week. Really great perspective on marriage and how our choices so deeply impact those around us. Important stuff, right here. Though I don't struggle with addictions like the gentleman who wrote the article, I'm reminded that I always need to work hard at loving Ryan even better than I do. Always room for growth. Always room for improvement.

Four.

 Hey cruise lovers! Did you see this article? A four month cruise hitting 32 countries and six continents? Ryan is SO READY to sign up. But you have to be able to take 119 days of vacation (which he does  not even remotely have), so we're out. My favorite part of the article was where it recommended this cruise for those who were retired or taking a "traditional gap year." Ummmmm the gap year is a traditional thing? HOW DID I MISS THIS?????? I AM BEHIND ON TRADITION!

Five.

 I know not all of you work from home, but I always like to find posts written by people who do, so I can get fresh ideas for how things might work. (When I quit my full time job, I actually scoured Pinterest and Google looking for articles about how to craft productive work-from-home days and found nothing aside from posts by homeschooling moms.) Emily Freeman and I don't do things exactly the same way, but her post offers great tips, so I'm passing it on to you! (And I am thrilled that I have finally found a good rhythm that works for me, too!)

Six.

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Back when I worked at the station, I received a copy of LuAnn Gerig Fulton's book Image Seeker. Fun bonus info: I'm friends with LuAnn's daughter, Erica! She's the one who taught me all about essential oils, and she had I have often had good, long conversations together over email.

It seemed I was always rushing to catch up in devo books that I needed to read for studies I was part of, so I hadn't read LuAnn's book until this year, when Ryan and I read it together for our morning devos! I wanted to tell you about it, because if you like the writing style here on the old blogaroo, I think you'd really enjoy hers too! She and I have similar approaches to devotional writing.

LuAnn is an ordained minister (a fact that if I knew...I hadn't remembered!), so she brings that level of knowledge into her writing, but she doesn't hold that over your head and get so theological in her delivery that you have no hope of understanding what she's saying. On the contrary, her writing is quite conversational. She tells you stories about her family, her life, and her struggles. It feels very much like you're just sitting down at a coffee shop with her, hearing about the things you can relate to so easily, but at the end, she offers a spiritual lesson she's learned from that part of her life.

The book contains 31 devotions, so you'll have enough for one month, and each one is designed to help you find ways to bear the image of Christ. (Hence the name of the book!) She studies the fruit of the Spirit, but she covers other passages as well, and each is unique and gives you something to think about as you go throughout the day. Each devo is paired up with a verse or two and concludes with a prayer. Most of the readings are 2-3 pages long, so you read enough to dive in, but it won't take hours of your day to read through.

I love it when a writer offers thoughts gently, so you don't feel condemned, but honestly, so you don't miss the challenge within the words. LuAnn hits the balance very well.
 
We really enjoyed reading these together as a couple, but the study would work well for an individual, too. I don't know if she ever intends to write a second devotional, but if she does, I would absolutely read it! I enjoyed studying alongside her!  

The Saturday Six

One.

Listen here...

This week I had the pleasure of welcoming my real-life friend Sarah Albert on The Conversation Cafe. Sarah is the one that coached me through the 21 Day Fix, and she is also the one who taught the canvas class at my mom's birthday party last summer! She is also an artist and has recently developed a 5 video series on cultivating a more meaningful prayer life. We talked all about prayer and she has great ideas for getting your kids fully involved in prayer time, even from a young age! Take a listen to her thoughts!

Two.

In the podcast, Sarah talks about the prayer beads her family uses to keep their focus on prayer and to help their minds from wandering to other subjects. If you like to craft, you can make one, of course, but if you don't have time or creative talent, Sarah does have those sets of beads for sale! 

Three.

I might be leaving this one here more for myself than for anyone else! {Hey, it's my blog! I can do that!} Found this handy post with a lonnnnnnnnnnnng list of tutorials for using PicMonkey. I use it for all the collages on the Shafferland Shuffle, and for any other photo that I edit beyond cropping. But I am certain there are a million ways to use it beyond what I know, so I'm going to check these out! But for those of you who also use PicMonkey (or who don't, but are about to start!), here you go! In related news, I'm so sad that PicMonkey recently changed a lot of free features to be paid-only features. Some of my favorites are off-limits to me now. Boo.

Four.

You know I love a good home tour!! Know what else I love? Home office tour! Author Deborah Raney shared this post this week that lets you peek into her writing space. And she's a coffee addict like I am! Beautiful little space. I always love seeing what inspires people to do whatever they do - whether it's writing or something else.

Five.

 A thousand times YES to this post by Lisa Bevere! While I continue to declare I AM NOT OLD, I will say I am old enough that I have a definite appreciation now for realizing that seasons that seem like a waste are really just preparation. Sure, I'm still eager to get to "the good stuff" of what I'm hoping to see realized in my life, but the steps that take me from here to there matter so much. I'm living IN the reality of how years that led up to now prepared me for now. Read Lisa's thoughts! Truth!!!!!

Six.

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This week, I had the chance to read a book that offered me the unexpected. It was a two-fer. I went in expecting to read a story about the life of an extraordinary young woman, and I did just that. The unexpected bonus was getting to read a gentle but clear challenge to change my perception of just about everyone I encounter. Hadn't expected that part, but my goodness, am I ever grateful!

Let me back up and tell you about the story part. A Different Beautiful is (in part) Courtney Westlake's story of her daughter, Brenna, who was born with a rare skin condition called Harlequin ichthyosis. Though they weren't sure she would survive long after birth, Brenna is now a thriving preschooler with a spunky personality and quite a zest for life. But that life has not been void of challenges.

Brenna's skin requires careful attention to make sure it stays hydrated and free of infection, which means all the things the majority of us take for granted as routine requires much additional work for Courtney and her husband. The laundry, the bathing, the application of particular lotions - even caring for her hair and nails - all of it looks different for them. Since I've never known anyone with this particular condition, reading about it and understanding what their normal looks like was very educational and interesting.

But although she does want to educate people and every writer wants to be interesting, those two goals weren't the end for Courtney. Brenna's birth changed more than Courtney's routine. It changed her perspective. She looks at beauty differently now, and I would dare to say she looks at it the way Jesus does. Before Brenna was born, Courtney dreamed about what moms expecting baby girls do: dressing them up, mani/pedi dates, prom hair, and more. Those things seemed to represent beauty. But now she sees beauty in a whole new way, everywhere she looks, and she aches for others to do the same.

And for this reader: mission accomplished. My mind is spinning with new thoughts that I'd never considered before. Understanding how my reactions affect those in front of me. Understanding how a change within my mind doesn't mean much if it doesn't change my interactions with others. Understanding in new ways the beauty of a soul and relationships and a mind focused outward. Understanding of the importance of treasuring God's gifts to me, even if they don't fit the world's "normal" mold.

I love stories. Courtney probably could have told me Brenna's story in the pages of this book and I would have walked away satisfied with the time I invested in reading it and encouraged others to read it too. But I am thankful she didn't stop with a story. I'm thankful she took time to gently teach through the means of the story. I'm thankful she challenged my thinking in how I view myself and everyone around me.

* The author provided me with a complimentary copy of this book , but all opinions are my own. *

The Saturday Six

One.

Listen to the podcast here

This week, I had the chance to talk with Sarah Beckman, whose very first book, Alongside, comes out on Valentine's Day! My review of that book is actually the next item in the Six, so please check it out. Bottom line? I loved it and think it's a great resource for everyone. Sarah has a lot of wisdom to share, and even though this podcast is a little longer than others I've done, I think you'll learn so much helpful, practical information, so take a listen!

Two.

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This week's book is one that I wish no one would ever need, but I can guarantee everyone will. My guess is that probably - even right this very minute - you have someone in your life who is facing some sort of crisis. An illness, the death of a loved one, a divorce, an injury - crises are everywhere, and they're hard.

If by some miracle, you don't have a friend or family member in a crisis time right now, it probably won't be long until you will (unfortunately) and when that time comes, you'll want to be equipped to be the best helper you can, through your actions, words, and prayers.


That is exactly where Sarah Beckman's debut book, Alongside, comes in. Sarah has been, as she puts it, "on both sides of the bed." Having been through bed rest with one of her pregnancies and four subsequent back surgeries while parenting her littles, she knows firsthand what it's like to depend on others for everyday tasks. And having walked with her best friend, her neighbor, and her brother-in-law while they lived their final days with cancer, she knows firsthand what it's like to be the person looking in, wanting to help in ways that are actually helpful.

From those experiences, and drawing from the rich wisdom of others in similar situations, Sarah wrote Alongside. It's a magnificent and practical guide with lists of ideas for how you might help those in a time of crisis. She teaches her readers how to discover what relationship tier they have with the person in need and tailor their help accordingly. She offers wisdom on what to say and what not to say, tangible needs to meet, and how to pray effectively, rather than throwing out the cliche-sounding "I'll pray for you," that's so often followed by forgetting to actually pray.

Though the lists are thorough, this is much more than just a book of lists. The stories are vulnerable, from Sarah's own experiences and those of trusted friends who have bravely shared their experiences. You'll see specific examples of good intentions gone bad along with out-of-the-box ideas that made a great impact!

I absolutely recommend this book for every home library, but also every church library and office bookshelf. It is a timeless resource, and I'm grateful Sarah worked so hard to offer a thorough guidebook!

* The Blythe Daniel Agency provided a copy of this book to me at no charge. All opinions are my own. *

Three.

If you're struggling through a part of life right now where nothing seems to be going right and you're wondering if maybe God is just taking a break from intervening, read this by Dr. Michelle Bengston. I just learned of her in recent days; we both write for the same organization, and I've been learning bits of her story since I learned of her. I thought this was well written, and while this is not my current place, I have been here for sure, wondering when or if God would ever come through!

Four.

When I first got out on my own, I was in major accumulating mode. I was eager to put together a home and make the very most of adulthood. Unfortunately I mistook MAKE THE MOST of it with HAVE THE MOST OF IT. I accumulated so much clutter! Since Ryan and I got married and combined our households, it's been very freeing to get rid of stuff and keep what we truly use and love! If this is tough for you (which I totally understand! Was for me at first, too!) check out this post with ideas on what to ask yourself to help determine what can go.

Five.

Last week, Ryan and I finished up the round of Hammer and Chisel exercises we'd been doing for a few weeks. Until we decide what we want to do next, we're back to the original 21 Day Fix workouts. I can tell I'm in better shape than I was when I started them the last time we did them between exercises, but they're still a shock to the old muscle system! Using muscles in new ways can get you! My friend Sarah Forgrave offered these ideas this week for crunchless ab exercises. Who can't use a good ab workout? If you need one and hate crunches, check out her post!


Six.

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{What? Two books in one week? It's true. But this one was only 30 pages long. So I thought I could squeeze it in alongside my grownup book!}

I'm branching out into new territory this week: taking a gander at a children's book! {WHAT?!} I've never reviewed a children's book before, because obviously I have no children, but the last time our niece and nephews were over, I was urged (by the oldest)  to perhaps look into beginning a collection of children's books. It's not a bad idea, really. I want our home to welcome ALL our friends, and many of them have kids! So here are my thoughts on a brand new release from Tyndale House.


Clearly, since I'm not well-versed in children's books, I'm also not well-versed in their authors. Gary Bower lives in Michigan with his wife, Jan, and they have 12 children and 22 grandchildren. I'd say that makes him an expert on writing books that will appeal to kids!! You should check out their website and read about the creative endeavors of the whole family!

The book I read is called The Beautiful Garden of Eden and is part of "A Faith That God Built" series. It's written in the rhyme scheme of "The House that Jack Built," with each new part of the story building on the previous part and repeating all the way back to the beginning.

Here's what I love about the book:

* Illustrations, done by Barbara Chotiner, are whimsical and fun.  It's the first time I've ever seen the forbidden fruit depicted as a pomegranate rather than an apple, and the Adam and Eve illustrations are tastefully done. Illustrations are as important as words in children's books, I think, so I was impressed.

* While I worried that the repetitive rhyme would get annoying, it didn't feel that way to me as I read it out loud. In fact, I felt the repetition was great for solidifying the Scriptural truths into little hearing hearts.

* Speaking of Scriptural truths, I found the book to be sound in doctrine. I think that's another thing you have to be careful with in children's books; there's a difference between changing the meaning and making it kid-appropriate. I felt like this one made it kid-appropriate without compromising truth.

* I heard Gloria Gaither say once that kids love big words, because it makes them feel smart to say fun, big words. This book incorporates that. While it's not written over the heads of kids in general, it throws in a few fun big words like upheaval, comely, calamitous, and woefully.

* The final page of the book directs readers to the full account in Scripture, which I think is  important.

I'm glad to put this book on my shelf, alongside the handful of treasures I've picked up at the Goodwill. Next time the kids come over, I hope they'll have fun reading it!

* Tyndale sent me a copy of this book at no charge. All opinions are my own.  *

The Saturday Six

One.

Listen here.

This week, I had the privilege of interviewing Jackie Drew, who is a small-business owner, along with her husband, Rick. They own Rad-Joy, where they make Surrender crosses: wooden crosses that provide a way for you to write down your burdens and concerns and nail them to cross in an act of surrender to the Lord. I went into the interview eager to learn more about their business, and I did learn that, but I walked away encouraged tremendously in my faith after hearing Rick and Jackie's personal faith journey. This particular Conversation Cafe is a bit longer than the rest, but Jackie is a great communicator, and I think you'll find her story well worth your time! (And then check out the crosses because they are unique and beautiful!)

Two.

 Back when I was single, I shopped at Aldi regularly, because it helped the old budget. After Ryan and I got married, we gave up shopping at Aldi because our double-commuter schedule put grocery shopping in a very late-night slot, and Aldi was always closed when we went. This year, we've returned to shopping at Aldi and are enjoying getting good deals {and some really good food!} there. Mandi at Life Your Way did a post this week on how shopping for her growing family was putting a strain on the budget and she details what she can get at Aldi for under $300 for 2 weeks {for eight people}! If you've never shopped at Aldi and want to see what the fuss is about, check out her post! The picture of her purchases is impressive!

Three.

 I told you in my "Day in the Life" post last week that a friend of mine had called to interview me for a class project. She finished her article and shared it with me, so I'm going to share it with you! I offer it not because it's about me, but just because I am so proud of Amy for her journalism skills and for being bold enough to share her work (she doesn't do that often) and I wanted to pass along the love!

Four.

 Is bravery as hard for you as it is for me? {Spoiler alert: I'm pretty terrible at it.} My friend Hether wrote this beautiful post on being brave. Maybe you need to hear it like I did.

Five.

Ahhhh, children of the 90's. Here's a trip down memory lane for you. Own any of these shoes? A special shout-out from me to number seventeen!!

Six.

Every now and then, I read an author's debut novel, and I never know what to expect going in. They're often good, but this week, I have to say my experience with a debut novel was exceptional. Ann Marie Stewart's novel Stars in the Grass was so well-written that I consistently forgot I was not reading a memoir. She was that in tune with her main character. Fantastic work.  

The story is told in first person from the perspective of nine-year-old Abby McAndrews, the middle child of a preacher and his wife. They're living a common life in 1970 in Ohio, shepherding a common Presbyterian church, and taking a break for a common vacation to visit family. And that's when the unthinkable happens: Abby's little brother Joel, just three years old, dies in an uncommon, freak accident.

And that's where the common ends and the uncommon, confusing, unpredictable trail of grief begins for the McAndrews family. Four remaining members and four very different ways of processing the deepest kind of loss. Not only that, but grief was handled very differently in the 70's than it is today. Emotions weren't spoken out loud quite as freely. Counseling wasn't as heartily recommended. So the days go by, where Abby works to process her own feelings, guilt, curiosity, and confusion, while watching her family do the same. She's wise and intuitive beyond her years, and yet her little-girl heart is so innocent and tender.

I would easily say that the characters in this book were the most well-developed of probably any book I have ever read. I knew them better than I know some of my own real-life friends and family, by the time I closed the book. The book itself is both captivating and heart-wrenching. It's not a light read by a long shot. The suffocating grief is hard to read, and yet you can't stop, because you're cheering for this family and you want to see them make it to a new normal.

Ann's description of the 70's is well-written. Enough detail to remind you how different things are today, but blended enough that it doesn't scream of another era and distract from the story line.

The only disappointment I had in the book was that it did contain one swear word. (I'm a stickler about clean language in books I read and won't read books that don't meet that standard. It's just a personal preference.) Having said that, I will add that the word was understandably placed, as part of a grief-stricken rant, and I do realize that even in choosing that word, she was making the point of  debilitating grief . It just caught me off guard because I wasn't expecting it from a Christian-marketed book.

But that does not keep me from loving this book and being astounded at the craftsmanship of Ann's writing. This was one of those books that made me want to be a better writer and story-teller. I appreciated it and will add it to my permanent library.

And as a side note, I will add that if you have experienced a deep loss that still marks you, even if it was years ago, this book might be a perfect pick for you. It will be hard to read and will stir up much emotion, I have a feeling, but I think you'll find a camaraderie, even in the friendship of a nine-year-old girl from the 70's.

*  This book officially releases on February 1, so you still have a couple more days before it hits shelves, but when it does, check it out! I received a complimentary copy from Barbour Publishing and was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own! *